This is what Mark dreaded in traveling back in time. He had to repeat the same cycle again; studying. Sure, guessing people's future and fates are all fun and games— until he actually has to wake up to the fact that he also needs to study and pass his subjects. If this was either a curse or a blessing, he wanted it to be over and go back to his actual timeline where he already has a job, a loving husband, and an adorable son.

Clasping his hands together, Mark looked like he was praying and promising to the heavens above that he'll treat his family right this time around. He'll stop being a dick and will change his ways.

Jeno got out of his room and was greeted by the sight of his friend being in his religious state. Well, he had to respect it. "Amen."

Mark came back to his senses the moment he heard the male's voice. "Great! Now that you're here, come join me. Let's study together."

The friend's eyes scanned the living room and saw books piled up and papers scattered everywhere. That sight made him go dizzy. "Pass, I'll go out."

"On a Sunday evening?" That made Mark curious. "Where to?"

It took Jeno a few moments before answering that question. "Just somewhere."

Suspicious. Mark raised a brow when he caught a glimpse of his friend getting a glass to drink water; he was all dressed up. "Who are you going with?"

Jeno almost spat the water out from his mouth with that question. "Just... someone."

"And that someone is?" With arms crossed, Mark began to interrogate his friend with all the get up. Gelled up hair, leather jacket, expensive shoes— he just hoped he won't go where there is trouble. "Jeno, yesterday, you also went out. Who were you with?"

"You also went out! I never asked who you were with." Not like Jeno wanted to ask because he already knew who it was.

"With Donghyuck." Mark didn't care what his friend would think. His focus right now is to get him to confess what he has been up to lately. "And you?"

Jeno didn't want to tell him, he knows he'll get teased. "I'm late, I have to go—"

"Lee Jeno." Mark warned him with his tone.

And that's how Jeno ended up taking the space next to Mark on the sofa, sitting there and gathering the right words to explain the situation he is in. The scene looked like a dad scolding his son for hiding secrets from him. Technically, Mark is a parent stuck in his teenage body.

"Yesterday, Jisung told me Jaemin would go out." Jeno guessed that the younger one heard that information from a certain Chinese friend.

"So you met up with Jaemin yesterday?" Somehow, Mark wasn't worried anymore that the three are getting to know each other. The scene where they were introduced by both Jisung and Chenle was over, so, thank God. One less problem to think of.

"No," Jeno looked away to hide his blushing cheeks. "I heard he's doing groceries. I went to the closest supermarket near their subdivision... and acted like I also had an errand."

Mark's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What?"

"I..." Closing his eyes, Jeno sped up his words so the embarrassment would be over quickly. "I purposely bumped into him at the supermarket and lied that I was also doing groceries just so I can hang out with him!"

So that explains why the fridge is stacked up inside.

Mark already knew that Jeno was hopeless.
But he never he'd be this pathetic.

"Mark Lee, don't laugh!" Jeno let out a groan of annoyance. He grabbed the eraser by the coffee table and threw it at the older male to stop him from cracking up.

With his quick reflexes, Mark was able to catch the eraser before it would hit his face; still being a laughing mess. "You... You really did that?"

"Yes! Now, leave me alone!" Kicking his feet, Jeno stood up and went towards the full-body mirror to check himself out.

"Are you also going to meet up with him on their street and act like you live around their subdivision?" Mark teased him, proving his friend's point as to why he didn't want to share.

"No, I'm meeting up with Renjun. I asked him out on a date." Jeno smirked, being cocky at how this is different from his embarrassing situation yesterday.

That shut Mark's mouth up. "You asked him out?"

"And he said yes." Jeno fixed his hair, flexing at how charming he is for being able to ask someone out on a date.

"But what about Jaemin?" Mark had to point out a question.

Jeno turned to him, giving the male on the sofa a clueless expectation. "What about him?"

"Didn't you go through all the embarrassment yesterday for him?" Confused and worried, Mark actually thought that everything was going back to where it was supposed to be.

"I was just curious about him." Jeno stated, walking towards the sofa and leaned on it before continuing their conversation. "Lately, I would see him pass by our room consistently and would seem like he's looking for someone."

Isn't Jaemin supposed to be looking for both Jeno and Renjun?

"At first, I would see him look at me." Mark let out a sigh of relief, but Jeno had to ruin it with what he's going to say next. "But then I caught him giving Renjun those heart eyes."

Mark has no idea if it's just Jeno being in denial that someone can actually like him, or things are actually going for a turn.

He just hopes it's not the second one.

"I only wanted to know him better, that's why it had to happen yesterday." Jeno explained to him, looking serious despite going through embarrassment. "I need to know what he is like so I can win over Renjun. I need to know my competitor's weakness."

With a face looking puzzled, Mark had to ask for the sake of his sanity. "Are you for real?"

"As real as I can get." It's either Jeno practiced hard to keep his feelings intact and not be obvious about it, or this really is how it's going to be. Getting curious, Jeno leaned down to ask. "Hey, since you keep pinning me up with Jaemin and Renjun, who do you think will end up with Renjun? You're good at guessing things."

Would it be wrong to give out a hint? Mark hoped it'll help with the situation. "Both."

"Both?" Jeno repeated. The next moment, he acted like he understood what his friend meant. "Oh! You mean like a love triangle, right? I like Renjun, Renjun likes Jaemin... but that would mean Jaemin likes me?"

Mark was neither the best or the right option to talk about this kind of relationship. The only people who know much about it are these three, but it looks like Jeno has zero knowledge regarding it. However, that doesn't mean Renjun and Jaemin, especially, don't know about it, right? They're still getting to know one another. They'll eventually find their way towards each other, right?

"Anyway, I really need to get going." Jeno said, wanting to excuse himself the moment he saw the time. "Goodluck studying!"

"Jeno, don't stay out too late!" Mark needed to shout because his friend was already by the door. "We have classes tomorrow!"

"Don't be such a dad! I'll go home eventually." Jeno told him, going out and not forgetting to shut the door.

And now, Mark was left there preoccupied with his thoughts. So much for wanting to focus studying. He wanted to call Donghyuck and talk to him about Jeno's situation, but he remembered the latter telling him that he'll be busy having a movie night with his friends at their apartment. Mark didn't want to ruin their moment, which he really is left alone in overthinking things.

Fresh air, Mark needed it.

He has been studying and reading his books the whole day now, maybe that's what's stressing him out. A short stroll and taking a break for an hour won't probably hurt him. There's also a convenience store right around the corner, maybe he can stop by to buy an energy drink to boost him up for the night.
Mark nodded his head in agreement with the plan he had sorted out.

Not bothering to change clothes, Mark only took his jacket and matched it with the pajamas he's wearing. He double checked his things before locking the apartment after seeing that all wires were unplugged. He made sure his wallet and keys were with him.

"I needed this." Mark calmed his breathing as soon as he began walking down the neighborhood.

The quiet stroll around their subdivision gave him peace of mind.

Not long after, he spotted the convenience store that he planned to stop by. Shaking off his worries, Mark stepped foot inside and let the cold air greet him. He roamed around from one aisle to another to look at what he wanted to buy; some snacks and drinks. Upon scanning his eyes on what snack to buy, his attention specifically stopped at a box of macaroons. It didn't take him a second to waste and grabbed it. Mark went down to his memory lane the moment he held the box of snacks. He knew someone who loved this snack with his whole heart and soul.

"Chan..." Mark uttered a name out, longing for his son's existence. "This is his favorite."

He used to buy quite a lot of these every chance he got. He passes by a store that would sell the same kind of snack, he'd buy a box before going home and surprise his son with it. On some occasions, Donghyuck would scold him for always spoiling their son with sweets.

"Excuse me, Mister?"

Mark got back from his trance, eyeing down at the kid who pointed a finger at the box he's holding.

"Are you going to buy that?" The child asked with a polite tone, trying to convince this stranger to give him the snack. "Those are my favorite! I want Papa to buy it for me."

"But I got it first—" There was no way Mark would argue with a kid.

However, something felt odd about the child. He looked like someone familiar even though this was the first time Mark had met him. He couldn't point out whether it's the eyes, nose, lips, or how curly his hair is that reminded Mark of someone quite close to his heart.

"Chiro, Hurry up! Dada is waiting outside!"

"Mister," Bringing his hand together in a praying manner and showing his puppy eyes, the kid was doing all in his power to convince the stranger. "Please give me macaroons."

Coincidentally, it was the last one that this store has. Even if Mark did want to buy this for himself, he wouldn't stoop low to quarrel with a child. Not complaining, he handed the box of macaroons to the kid who jumped in glee upon getting what he wanted.

"Thank you so much, Mister...?" He then tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner.

Mark let out a chuckle, crouching down to ruffle the child's curly hair. "Mark, I'm Mark."

"Mister Mark, I am Chiro!" The kid cheered out, hugging the box of macaroons tight. He felt grateful towards the stranger. "Mister Mark, you are a good person."

That made Mark laugh, what does a kid know about what's good and what's bad?

"Chiro, what's taking you so long?" The father came to their aisle to check up on his son that was left wandering alone.

"Papa, look! Mister Mark gave me macaroons!" Upon saying that, Chiro raised the box up to show his father.

Mark giggled at how adorable the kid is. He averted his eyes from the child and turned to the parent that's now walking towards them. To say that he was surprised is an understatement. Mark froze from his place in trying to get a good look at the parent's features.

He couldn't be more right when he heard the father say, "Care to share with Papa later? Those are also my favorites."

Mark can't be wrong. That's definitely who he thinks he is. However, he couldn't seem to move from his place because of shock. He was dumbfounded to say the least.

"Thank you." It was when the father spoke to him before leaving with his child that Mark got back to his senses.

He watched the two pay by the counter and quickly left the store the moment they got what they needed. Mark felt the urge to follow them, he wanted to know what was going on and why it was happening. Deciding not to buy anything, Mark rushed to the door and pushed it in hopes to catch the two.

"Ahh!" However, his head started to ache.

He stepped out of the convenience store, but had to put a hand on his knee to balance himself. His vision became blurry and the world, for him, was spinning. Mark had no clue where he got this headache from when just a moment ago he was doing so well.

Alongside those symptoms, a perception of a child crossing the road with a truck coming towards him appeared inside his head.

Gasping for air, Mark coughed at the feeling of being suffocated. His eyes scanned the area to look for the people that he wanted to approach. He looked unwell but that's the least of his concern as he had a purpose of going out of the convenience store.

"Papa, can I eat inside the car?"

"Of course, baby! Let's wait for Dada first."

Mark saw them. The kid was moving in excitement while waiting and the father was on his phone, seeming like messaging the person they were waiting for. However, because the parent's attention was on his phone, he didn't notice the child being distracted by a stray cat that went past them. Mark had his eyes glued on the child, still catching his breath and gathering all his strength to move and finally make his way towards them. He followed where the child is going, being distracted by the cat, worried and anxious as they were waiting by the road.

"Where are you parked? We're waiting here by the convenience store." The father dialed a number and immediately scolded whoever he called.

Mark was torn between approaching the father or run to the kid that was walking away, following the cat.

And it's as if what he saw a while ago was a foreshadowing, a truck is on its way towards them.

The father was too busy in a call to even notice his son being far enough for him. However, Mark saw everything and had his eyes widened at how the cat crossed the road.

For sure, the kid will follow.

But was Mark allowed to meddle with the situation?

He saw inside his head what the kid's fate was.

Is he going to be affected with the change if he saves the child?

Fuck it. "Chiro!"

The next thing he knew, Mark already rolled over the ground with a child in his embrace. They were laid down on the sidewalk. Mark came in time to grab the child and prevent him from crossing the road. The truck only honked as a warning, but continued to drive off nonetheless.

Breathing heavily, Mark had no idea what just happened but he let his body decide for itself and move on its own. It was his conscience telling him to save the child. There was no way he'd let the situation happen just because he saw a glimpse of it inside his head. His conscience wouldn't let it happen even if the predicament was hinting at what would happen. Mark closed his eyes as he calmed his breathing down, his heart still beating fast from the adrenaline rush.

He could then feel the kid from his embrace, moving.

"Sohee!"

Sohee? That's a different name.

"I thought I was going to lose you on your birthday! Sohee!"

Full of questions inside his head, Mark opened his eyes nonetheless to check up on the child that he had saved from the accident.

To make everything more confusing, it was now a different child he is with. It wasn't Chiro, and the parent that's running towards them wasn't who he wanted to chase a while ago. It's now a mother that wants to see how his son is doing. How did they become someone else? He could have sworn he knew who he was running to moments before the disaster. He could even remember their names.

Where did Chiro and Chan go?

— to be continued